What people say about us

I love how it is a comfortable, carefree zone, Sue is very inspirational, she gives me confidence, and makes me feel powerful. It is a lovely environment to work in - empowering!

You get to talk about your emotions. Sue is a really calm and kind teacher.

I loved working with sue, I feel as though she creates a very safe environment whereby I don’t feel judged and am allowed to speak freely. I benefited from these sessions because I now feel more confident standing up for what I think matters. Sue is so lovely, understanding and caring and I'm very grateful to have worked with her.

We have seen the impact of Sue's work in : Increased attendance Students work ethic and commitment (particularly at ks4) Confidence Peer relationships (some of which have spilled into parental disputes and conflict) Useful strategies to share with wider staff Students feeling supported, heard and valued Students going on to lead on issues such as misogyny and , mental health - ambassadors for the school Sue is incredibly flexible in terms of which students she is able to work with , the strategies she uses to support and engage them, whether it is 1:1 or group work. Sue provides all her own resources , totally bespoke and unique to the the students she works with. Some of the resources she provides extend outside her sessions. Sue works for two full days at John spence in that time she can see multiple groups of students , 5 times each day. I send Sue weekly updates on individual students to inform and support the sessions that she has with them. Sue then sends a weekly update that I am able to log on our CPOMS and share with relevant staff. The difficulty is often that we have a waiting list for Sue as she is very much in demand. This is due to the relationships that she builds with individual students. Why ThisLife works for us. Like all schools our students face a multitude of issues. ThisLife has helped students struggling with: Attendance and school avoidance EBSNA Emotional / behavioural / challenging behaviour Anti social behaviour / behaviour in the community Vulnerability / students who have had periods of missing anxiety mental health disengagement in education/ lack of aspiration Peer relationships Toxic relationships Body confidence Self harm Online safety and use of social media Young carers Students who are living with parents who have addiction This life works for us because of the nature of Sue’s sessions and work, it is always flexible, informed and relevant. She directs the support she offers around the individual needs of each student or group. Getting the most from them and we are getting the most from her! She maximises her time here and often links sessions to pertinent issues and projects to empower and engage the young people that she works with. The topics addressed are relevant to our students , their individual needs, as well as the context of our school and students lives.

I cannot begin to capture the positive impact that Sue has had on so many of our students. Her work with complex groups is inspiring as she picks apart issues, generates an environment for reflection, which then results in school being a much more positive place for all those involved. Equally at an individual level Sue can support students with her sessions on self esteem and confidence meaning that students feel much happier in school as they are able to access their lessons and build positive relationships with others. The positive impact Sue has on the students she works with is stark in terms of better attendance, a reduction in relationship issues and an overall better sense of self worth and wellbeing. The students truly value Sue's time with them and for many the sessions really do transform their views of themselves, others and school.

ThisLife has transformed the way some of our complex and challenging students and peer relationships are supported and improved, in such an effective and positive way. Some of these students have gone on to work collaboratively on projects that have been presented to both students and staff, demonstrating a remarkable change in their dynamics and attitudes towards each other and the school community. For students who have struggled with their emotional wellbeing and self-confidence, Sue has been an integral part of their support and improvement. Her guidance has helped students feel more capable of coping with the stresses of both school and home life. The development of their exercise books reflects a clear journey of growth, showcasing the clever ways Sue encourages reflection on past behaviours and consideration of future actions. We continue to book with Sue well in advance each year to ensure our students benefit from her invaluable support, knowledge, and skills — support that is deeply appreciated by all the students, parents and staff who work with her.

Our daughter was having such a hard time in school. She was constantly in trouble and arguing with teachers. Spending some time with Sue has made all the difference. She has been able to understand why she felt so angry all the time and is now managing much better, at school and at home! We took part in the Parent Interview Project which really got us talking in a fun way.

Isla was having a rotten time at school. She'd been diagnosed with ADHD and ASD and was constantly misunderstood. When she met Sue she found a purpose, she threw herself into all the activities and has since decided that she wants to pursue a career helping others. Isla contacted Sue again when she left school and got some great help and advice. We can’t thank Sue enough for her kindness and understanding.

Our daughter was struggling with a number of issues and had hit crisis point, resulting in her feeling unable to attend school regularly or cope whilst in the school environment. Immediately following the first session of ThisLife our daughter was more willing to attend and engage, she felt reassured that regular, responsive support was available and that her concerns were being heard. In the 8 months that has passed with the support of ThisLife our daughter is now attending school regularly and most importantly willingly. She has developed healthy supportive sustainable friendships with peers by using the advice, support, materials and skills given to her within the sessions. As a family we will be forever thankful, it really did make all the difference.

We were having loads of problems with boys in our school. We did a project with Sue about misogyny and sexism. We are now writing lesson plans and teacher training stuff and have presented it to the senior leadership team.

I love talking to Sue. I can ask advice on really personal stuff. When I was rowing with my mam I used Sue's questions to interview her and it really made a big difference. (She can still be annoying though).

Me and my friend had fallen out and were literally fighting in the corridor. We went to Sue and we did a project about mental health. We are back being best mates and even did a presentation to the headteacher. Sue helped us say what we needed to say and understand each other's point of view. We'd never have done that on our own.